The most comprehensive survey on the state of food insecurity in the world confirms large gains have been made in combating hunger in many parts of Asia and the Pacific, the head of FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific announced today.

“Achieving the MDG hunger target is now close to hand,” said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, noting that the remaining gap to meet the Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger by half in the vast Asia-Pacific region now stands at less than one percentage point. “However, the prevalence of hunger in South Asia continues to remain high at 15.8 percent,” Konuma added, in reference to its MDG target of 12 percent.

The announcement followed the 2014 global release of The State of Food Insecurity in the World, published jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which indicates that, globally, the number of hungry people has dropped from 840 million in 2009-11, to 805 million recorded for 2012-14.

Since the baseline years of 1990-92, the proportion of hungry people in Asia and the Pacific has been reduced by almost half. Sub-regionally, during the same period, East Asia has shown a reduction of 53.4 percent, South East Asia 66.3 percent and South Asia 34 percent.

“While South Asia remains a concern, the continuing decline in the proportion of undernourished people in other parts of Asia and the Pacific is very encouraging,” said Konuma. “This means many countries in East and Southeast Asia have either met or are on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the proportion of undernourished people in the sub-regions.”

However, in overall terms for the Asia-Pacific region, as the most populous region in the world, it remains home to most of the world’s hungry people – 504.6 million, down from 727.1 million in 1990-92.

Zero Hunger Challenge

There are positive indications that policy makers across the region are shifting into higher gear to not only reduce hunger but eliminate it altogether. Indonesia, Asia’s third most populous country, has made significant progress in establishing an enabling environment through efforts that include strengthening local government capacities.  Increasingly, countries in Asia-Pacific are implementing the Zero Hunger Challenge at national level, following global and regional initiatives. The Zero Hunger Challenge was initially launched by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Earlier this year, Timor-Leste launched a National Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC) which is now being implemented. The country has earmarked ten percent of its national budget for ZHC activities. Myanmar, Nepal and Viet Nam have also committed to join the ZHC.

Food prices and production

Global food supplies have for the most part held steady. Last week, FAO announced the fifth consecutive monthly drop in the Food Price Index (FPI), reaching its lowest level in four years. FAO's price index for cereals declined 1.5 percent from last month and 11.7 percent year on year.

With 2014 being another record year for wheat production, prices for the staple grain continued to slide in August, reaching their lowest value since July 2010, the FPI reported. Production in Argentina, Brazil, China, the EU, India, and the Russian Federation has increased significantly, offsetting reductions in Australia, the United States and, especially, Canada -- where the latest official forecast points to a decline of almost 10 million tonnes (26 percent).

Similarly, near-ideal growing conditions in key producing areas, coupled with abundant stocks, have seen maize prices retreat to a four year low.

However rice has bucked the trend in grains, with its prices rising in August, reflecting increased import demand, lower-than-expected releases from stockpiles by Thailand, and unfavorable weather affecting some crops in Asia. Compared to July’s estimate, the production outlook worsened by about three million tonnes, as an erratic rainfall pattern and concerns over El Niño's impacts on crops early next year marred prospects in China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Still, at 500.4 million tonnes, global rice production (in milled rice equivalent) is forecast to surpass the 2013 harvest by 0.4 percent.